Falcon, swan, raven -- as my work progressed, avian thoughts grew stronger and stronger and eventually became a source of great inspiration and enjoyment. While the listener should not take the movement titles too literally, one may easily hear their evidence in the music. For example, the first movement is charged with enormous vitality and buoyancy. Rapid, rocket-like gestures suggest the falcon’s ability to swoop and dive at incredible speed. A “scurrying” middle section hints at animals tryi...